Washington’s
2006 season was highlighted by his third-place finish at the AT&T USA Indoor
Championships and in running the lead leg of Team USA’s gold medal winning
4x400m relay squad at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, Russia.
Washington fought a series of nagging injuries in 2005 and still had wins on the
international circuit in Rome, Rovereto and at the World Athletics Final. After
a fantastic 2003 season, Washington developed a sore Achilles tendon one month
prior to the 2004 Olympic Trials. Although he competed in Sacramento, he was
unable to advance to the final. Washington enjoyed his finest year in 2003,
winning the world indoor title and going undefeated the entire season before his
silver-medal winning performance at the World Outdoor Championships in Paris.
His two best performances in 2003, winning the USA outdoor title (44.33), and at
Rome (44.42), were the two fastest 400m times in the world that year. It marked
a successful and dramatic comeback for Washington. After his performance in 1997
he was considered one of the heirs to Michael Johnson’s 400m throne, but
illness, injuries and personal issues kept him off his game…Washington battled a
respiratory infection in 2000, then sustained hamstring injuries at the 2001 USA
Outdoor Championships. In August of 2002, he testified against his sister in a
first-degree murder case. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Washington said. “I didn’t
know if I was going to come back to track. She’s in a state penitentiary for the
rest of her life. I use that as motivation to do something good in my life.”
Washington in 2002 also worked as a probation officer in Riverside County,
California, but left the job when “I got tired of handcuffing kids. I rather
counsel them than handcuff them.” He got his start in track as a long jumper but
switched to the 400 after persistent back spasms made jumping impossible…the
next year, he lost the 400 at the California state meet to Obea Moore…troubled
family background; father was in prison as Washington was growing up…lived with
one of his football coaches his final year of high school…enjoys speaking to
troubled youth: “I feel bad for the things I went through in life, but I’m 10
times stronger now. Kids give up so quickly these days. I tell them that they
can only limit themselves”…was a cornerback in football, a sport he calls his
“first love”…had been offered a full ride to Oregon to play football, but did
not pass SATs…earlier received offers to play football from the San Diego
Chargers, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants, but has put professional football
on hold for now…married to Chara, and has a son, Malik and daughter Tyra.

2006:
3rd at USA Indoor Champs (46.18)…did not compete at USA Outdoors…1st
at World Indoor Champs 4x400m relay (lead leg, 3:03.24)…5th at adidas
Classic (45.55)…3rd at
Reebok Grand Prix (20.32)…7th at Nike Prefontaine
Classic (45.64)…best of 45.55.2005: 1st at World Athletics Final (44.51)...1st at Rome (45.02)...1st at
Rovereto (45.27)...ranked #6 in world (#3 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 44.51.
2004: 6th in semifinal at Olympic Trials (45.46)1st
at Provo (45.14)1st at San Diego (45.40)best of 45.14.2003: World Indoor 400m champion (45.34WL) World Indoor 4x400m gold
medalist World Outdoor Champs 400m silver medalist (44.77) USA Outdoor
champion (44.33, World Leader)USA Indoor champion (46.43)World Outdoor 4X400m
gold medalist (2:58.88) 2nd leg 1st at Osaka (44.97)1st at Heusden (44.99)1st
at Verizon Indoor Games (48.80)1st at Rome (44.42)1st at Nike Prefontaine
Classic (44.70)1st at IAAF Grand Prix Outdoor 400m (44.97)ranked #1 in world
by T&FNbest of 44.33. 2002: Did not compete. 2001: Running with an injured hamstring, placed 6th in his semifinal at
GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Championships (46.02)ran 44.28PR in Los Angeles on May
12, the fastest time by an American in 2001ran 44.47 in winning at Mt. SAC in
second fastest time by an American in 2001ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FNbest
of 44.28. 2000: Did not qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team in the 400battled a
respiratory infection, running only four races the entire season. 1999: Did not compete in USA Outdoor...ranked 8th in U.S. in 200 by
T&FN...bests of 20.09 and 45.50. 1998: Runner-up in 400 at USA Champs (44.38)...2nd at 200 (20.29) and 400
(44.43) in Goodwill Games; ran third leg on winning 4 x 400 (43.4 for 2:54.20 WR)...4th
in GP Final (45.47)...nine straight clockings under 45-seconds...ranked #4 in
world at 400 (#2 U.S.) by T&FN; ranked #5 in world, #2 U.S. at 200...
bests of 20.29 and 44.29. 1997: Bronze medal at 400 in World Champs (44.39 PR); anchored gold medal
4 x 400 (43.98 for 2:56.47) ...2nd in 400 at USA Champs (44.79)...won 200 (20.30
PR) and 400 (44.91) at California JC Champs...ran PR 20.10 to win 200 at
Villanueve d'Ascq... PR 44.38 came in finishing 2nd at Zurich's Weltklasse...ranked
#2 in world and U.S. at 400 by T&FN, #5 U.S. at 200... bests of 20.10 and
44.38. 1996: best of 46.00. 1995: 2nd in California state HS 400... best of 46.34. 1994: Won the California state HS long jump title.